NAIA Wrestler of the Week – No. 4

Grand View's Thompson receives third career Wrestler of the Week honor

January 30, 2013

By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Eric Thompson of Grand View (Iowa) has been named the NAIA National Wrestler of the Week, announced Wednesday by the national office. Thompson, who is receiving this award for the third time in his career, was selected based on his performances from Jan. 21 - 27.

Thompson, a native of Shell Rock, Iowa, improved to 32-5 on the season after going 5-0 last week en route to an individual title at the 2013 Grand View Open on Jan. 26. The junior heavyweight opened the event with an 18-2 technical fall against Dortanyia McIntyre of Ellsworth Community College (Iowa) before recording three-straight pins, including two against NCAA Division I wrestlers, by a combined time of four minutes and 12 seconds. Thompson defended his 2012 Grand View Open title with a 15-0 technical fall against NCAA Division I Northern Iowa's Cody Krumwiede.

Thompson now boasts four individual titles this season with previous victories coming at the Loras Open (Iowa) on Nov. 3, the Harold Nichols/Cyclone Open (Iowa) on Nov. 10 and at the Simpson (Iowa) Invitational on Dec. 1.

The next Wrestler of the Week announcement will be on Feb. 6. For the complete Player of the Week calendar, click here.